Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2221, Jonathan Freeman, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Freeman, Jonathan
S 2221
CONTENTS
Carded

32.157 New Jersey Jonathan Freeman Middlesex Co in the State of N. Jersey is a Private in the Com. commanded by [blank] of the reg. commanded in the Rev. War 6 mos. N.J.
Entered on the Roll of New Jersey of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Rate of Pension issued the 13 day of June 1844 and sent to Hon. J. H. Miller N. J. Senate.
Interest to the 4th of Mar 1844 260.00 Semi-ant. allowance on ling 4 Sep. 44 10.00 $ 270.00
Revolutionary Claim, June 7, 1832 H. L. Swann, Clk Recorded by Book 62 Vol. 3 Page 129.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
State of New Jersey County of Middlesex ss. On this eighteenth day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. personally appeared in open court before the court of Common Pleas in & for said County held at New Brunswick Jonathan Freeman a resident of the Township of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey aged Sixty nine Years
1834 69 1765
and who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he was born in Woodbridge on the tenth day of August 1764 according to the Record of his age in an old family Bible now exhibited in court . That Woodbridge has been his place of residence since his birth.
That in his fourteenth year he volunteered at Woodbridge in the service of his country, and rode as a post rider. That his service was to keep as near as he could to the British laying at Amboy and the country adjacent, and to watch their movements, and as quick as possible by mounting his horse, to report the same to the officer in command of the American troops then laying at the Short hills and country adjacent. That he recollects making reports to General Washington, while he was there at other times to other officers there whose names he does not recollect; that his service in this way was entirely

voluntary and without pay, and lasted during the time the British had any force in Amboy; that his method was to get upon some high ground near the British, from which he could see their movements; and in case of danger, he being a boy, would not excite so much suspicion — He generally rode his father's horse and once came very near being taken by the British cutting him off, when he escaped with difficulty into the woods, and so taking a roundabout way he — to head quarters at the Short hills, where he gave the alarm to one of the officers in command there —
That during the time he acted as post rider, he did other service as a volunteer — That in 1777, he thinks in the month of June, the British sallied out in strength from Amboy towards the Short hills — That after giving notice as usual, he volunteered among the militia col- lected, and with about a Regiment of Regular troops enga- ged the British about four miles Northwest of Woodbridge village; after considerable fighting the Americans retreat- ed towards Quibbletown, and fell in with the main body American of Troops, being in all about two Brigades, under General Lord Sterling, when an engagement took place: that A- mericans were worsted and retreated with difficulty — That he retreated with them as far as Quibbletown, and then fell off to take care of a wounded man named Peter Freeman; the Troops continued to retreat into the moun- tains — The British pursued the Americans as far as Westfield, when they gave up the pursuit and retur- ned to Amboy by the Rahway road; he does not recollect what officer he then served under, but he remembers that they killed more of the British, than the latter did of the Americans —
That about the same time, (but he cannot re- collect if immediately before or after the above mentioned circumstance) he volunteered at Woodbridge, in the

where name he does not recollect. The Militia were about 800 strong, and they attacked a party of the British of about the same number from Amboy, close by the house in which he now lives, about one mile West of Woodbridge village, and after a considerable engagement the British retreated to Amboy, leaving several of their number killed.
That in July 1778 he volunteered with about fifty others under a Captain Clark, an artilleryman, and proceeded with a field piece (a twelve pounder) to Amboy, and attacked a British armed Brig laying in the river there, and drove her off. Robert Coddington of Woodbridge was then wounded, by a grape shot from the Brig. It was understood that several were wounded on board of the Brig.
That in the Summer of 1779, four British Gunboats sailed up the Raritan river to destroy some Stores and Boats that lay there at New Brunswick. The alarm was given at Woodbridge, when he volunteered, and after collecting the Militia, proceeded to the Raritan river and harassed the Gunboats during their passage returning down the River.
In the winter of 1779-80 (in January he thinks) he volunteered at Woodbridge, and went out with the militia about a Regiment under Colonel Cross and Jaguish, and in September, Matthew Freeman's company, to Staten Island, on the ice, for the purpose of taking the fort at Richmond, but after skirmishing returned without effecting their purpose, the British being too strong for them - several were wounded.
That in June 1781 he volunteered at Woodbridge under Capt Matthew Freeman, in the militia, at the time of the Battles of Springfield and Elizabethtown, when they marched from Woodbridge to Elizabethtown, and pursued and skirmished with the retreating British.

to the Sound, and then returned home. Captain Nathaniel Randolph received his death wound on this occasion, as also Smith Bloomfield; - Henry Freeman, Hans etc. Abraham Tappan & many others of his neighbors were there.
That till June 1781. he was for the most part of the time out as a volunteer in the militia, joining small par- ties together and proceeding towards Sable and Harris land, skirmishing with parties of the British and har- assing them as much as in their power, and was always ready to reconnoitre - and devoted most of his time from the age of fourteen, to such service until June 1781. when in his 17 th year he drafted at Piscataway (near Woodbridge) into Captain David Dunham's Company of militia as a private; of which Company James Freeman was Lieutenant; that he was out in this Company during the month of June and July, doing duty along the lines, and march- ing from one place to another in Woodbridge and Sable according to the orders of the Captain - that this service was arduous being under arms most part of the time and most always in the night for the purpose of detecting and driving off plunderers from Sable Island etc. that he after this returned home; but was out in alarms several times afterwards, being liable to be called at any moment and always ready to go - that besides so engaged in the business, that for weeks at a time he did not sleep in a house, until the British retired - that he generally slept in Barns, under trees etc. and continually attempting in every way to do service - that he finds it impossible from the length of time intervening to recollect all the particular cir- cumstances of his service, but that it was excepting the

time of his being drafted as above mentioned, always voluntary, and almost his whole study and business for years.
That since the Revolutionary war he has continued to and does still reside at Woodbridge, that he never received any discharge from the service, and that he refers to the Rev d W. M. Barton & Ichabod Potter —————, to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, who can testify as to his charac- ter, services, and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and de- clares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, and in further support of his claim he submits the declarations of John Blood, Judd, and Henry Freeman —————, hereto annexed.
Jonathan Freeman
Sworn to and read out scribed the day and Year after.
Thos Vance Judge
The William B Barton clergyman and Ichabod Potter, residing in Woodbridge, here to certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Freeman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neigh- bourhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and an active one, and that we con- cur in that opinion.
Sworn to by the said Ichabod Potter ————— and affirmed to by the said William B Barton

The day and Year aforesaid.
William B Barton Ischabod Potter
Thos Hance Judge
And the said Court _____ do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after perusing the interrogatories presen- ted by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court
further certifies. — That it appears to them that William B Barton, who has signed the preceding cer- tification is a lawful man resident in the village of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex. That Ischabod Potter, _____ who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person, and that their statement is enti- tled to credit. Thos Hance, Ischabod Potter
Peter P. Runyan Judge J. S. Ford
Nicholas Baccam Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middle- sex do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, with the declarations of John Bloodgood and Henry Freeman hereto also attached.
in the matter of the application of Jonathan Free- man for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
N Baccam Clerk

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 192
In reply to your request of _____, for the history of Jonathan Freeman , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the following is taken from the soldier's claim for pension.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1777 Served Express Clark Randolph N. J.   several 7 Matthew Freeman Crow   times Post Jacques   until   1782  
Battles engaged in, several skirmishes Residence of soldier at enlistment, Woodbridge N. J. Date of application for pension, June 16-1834 Residence at date of application, Woodbridge, Middlesex Co. N. J. Age at date of application, Born Aug. 10-1764 in Woodbridge, N. J.
Remarks: no family data
Respectfully,

Supplemental declaration of Henry Jonathan Jonathan Hurn an of Middlesex County, New Jersey, to obtain the benefit of the act of 6th April of June 1832
State of New Jersey Middlesex County, ss. On this twenty fourth day of September 1834, before me a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid, personally appeared Jonathan Hurnan , of said County, an applicant for a Pension, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith: That having heretofore made application to the War Department for a Pension under the act of 6th April of 1832, and being advised by instructions from the Department that the declaration is not sufficiently precise in its specifications of his term of service, he now proceeds, as far as he can, to supply the deficiency, premising that he cannot, in every instance, speak unqualifiedly as to the duration & particular of his term, but only according to the best of his recollection, taking care, not in the enumeration  enumeration of the terms of his service, not to exceed the amount actually performed.
As he has heretofore stated in his original declaration he com- menced his services at a very early age - before he was fourteen, he thinks - as a scout, or look out, or express rider, and continued to do duty in this way & in occa- sionally shewing his musket, up to the Winter of '79- 80. What is the exact time he was thus employed as a volunteer he cannot say, but altogether it could not have been less than six months. He was under the direction, a part of the time, of General Maxwell (erroneously written, in the original declaration as Max- field ) was once out under Capt. Clark for a short

time to Amboy, and upon another occasion went up the Raritan River after the British gun boats under Capt. R. Randolph. In the winter of 79-80, altho' not quite sixteen, the age at which he was bound to do service, he regularly attached himself to the company of Capt. Matthew Freeman, in Col. Cross regiment, and continued in service without intermis- sion, as a private volunteer, from the beginning of January until some time in May a period 12 mo of four months, all the while under Capt. Free- man, stationed in Woodbridge to guard the lines from the plundering & marauding parties of the enemy on the opposite shore of Staten Island. During This time an unsuccessful expedition was undertaken to capture the fort at Richmond, Staten Island. There was some skirmishing, in which several of our corps were wounded. In June 1780, a large detach- ment of the enemy entered New Jersey from Staten Island by the way of Elizabeth town, & penetrated as far as Spring field, burning and destroying a good deal of property. At Spring field there was some hard fighting, and not a few shots exchanged on the retreat of the enemy. The militia were all out on that occasion, & he amongst the rest. He served at 1 mo this time a term of one month under Capt. Free- man, and he continued to serve during the remain- der of the year on all occasions, answering as well the de- mands of the law for monthly tours, as the demands of patriotism & duty in turning out frequently in the intervals of his regular tours. He performed, in this time, not less than three 3 mo tours of a month each, under Capt. Freeman, 1 mo and not less than one month in extra ordinary

occurring under the same captain, and all in Woodbridge and the adjacent country, in the service common to the militia there, of guarding the lines night & day. In the early part of the year 1781, and up to May of that year, he did at least two tours 2mo of duty of a month each, under Capt Freeman, in Woodbridge, as before, and in the same kind of service. He then remembers to have been placed under the command of Capt David Dunham, of the adjoining township of Piscataway. He thinks this was in June '81, and that he served two months in succession under him (that is, June & July). In this, however, he may possibly be mistaken. He did 2mo two months duty under him, and in tours of a month  whether in June & July, or in June & August, he cannot positively say. each. He It was on the same station at Woodbridge & in the same service of guarding the lines. He then came under his old captain again - Capt Free- man, and during the remainder of the year '81 did at least two tours of a month each under 1mo him on the Woodbridge station. In 1782, also, he was out, & performed certainly not less than three 3mo tours of a month each under Capt Freeman, in the usual service of guarding the lines. Upon a full & deliberate review of what is herein contained, he feels perfectly confident that he has, in no instance, exceeded the time  term of service actually performed, and has fallen short in the aggregate. He in fact, did little or nothing for years but soldier- ing; nor was it practicable for the militia in the part of the country he resided.
Subscribed to me this day 13 Jonathan Freeman year aforesaid, before me
Elisha P. Runyan Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey Middlesex County ss. On this 24th day of September 1834, before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Arash Dunham , known to me as a credible person, whose testimony is to be relied upon, who being duly sworn on his oath saith, that he is a soldier of the Re- volution, and now receiving a Pension as such: that he is well ac- quainted with Jonathan Freeman , the foregoing applicant for a Pension, that from the early part of the Revolution, he remembers well in that stormy period as one of the most active & brave soldiers in the militia; recollects him distinctly at various times, in the performance of mili- tia service; knows that he did duty, at least two times of a month each under Capt D Dunham (his deponent's captain) and has no doubt from the general activity & zeal of said Freeman, and from the unimpeachable character which he now maintains, that his statements in all respects, in relation to his Revolutionary servi- ces, may be implicitly received.
Subscribed this day & year Arash   Dunham aforesaid, before me 3 mark
Peter P. Murray on Justice of the Peace
At the same time also appeared before me Amos Nor , known to me as a credible person, whose statements, to be relied upon, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith that he is a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner - that he recollects well that Jonathan Freeman , the aforesaid applicant, was a soldier & a good one - that he commenced his services at an early age, and continued to serve as long as there was any call for the mi- litia. He heard his name read, & has not a doubt of its cor- rectness - knows that said Freeman is too conscientious to have a day thing which he was not clearly certain of being true. Said Free- man belonged to his deponent's knowledge, to Capt. M. Freeman's company, subscribed this day & year 2 aforesaid, before me
Peter P. Murray on Justice of the Peace
Amos Nor
Nicholas Scorrano , Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, do hereby certify, that Peter P. Murray, on before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken, is a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature of said Justice is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty fourth day of September eighteen hundred thirty four
N. Scorrano Clerk

31.125 Jonathan Greenlaw and
See deposition of Ropes & others filed in Mass Ducens papers.
No 12
on Margin of certificate
for L 0.16.8 2.1.0 2.17.8
Hon J. W. Miller Senate N.Y. James F. Rangel Hon. J. F. Rangel New Brunswick N.J.

State of New Jersey } Middlesex County } Personally came before me Ichabod Potter one of the Judges of the Court of common pleas in and for said County James Bloomfield who being a man of truth & veracity which do hereby certify & being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth depose and say that he is acquainted with Jonathan Freeman & that he was a zealous friend to his country's cause in the time of the Revolutionary war & he being a man of good character & truth he has no doubt that the facts set forth in the preceding declaration & affidavits which he has made are true & correct Sworn & subscribed before } James Bloomfield on the 22 nd day of September 1834 } Ichabod Potter
I Nicholas Broom Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, do hereby certify that Ichabod Potter before whom the foregoing affidavits of Henry Freeman Jr & James Bloom- field were taken, is a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned & qualified, & that the signature of said Justice is in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this Twenty fourth day of September Eighteen hundred and thirty four
N Broom Clerk

State of New Jersey } Personally appeared before me Ichabod Middlesex County } Potter one of the Judges of the Court of common Pleas in & for said County Henry Freeman Pagnire known to me to be a man of truth & accuracy & being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he was acquainted with Jonathan Freeman of this place in the time of the Revolutionary War & that he was an active man in defense of his country's cause & that he knows that he served a one month tour of duty in the Militia some time during said War that James Freeman was Lieutenant of the company & Freeman served in & David Dunham was at the time the Captain & that he lent him a Musket to do duty with & that J. Freeman also was out in the Militia at the time of the battle at Br. Town in the year 1780 & that he has good reason to believe that no doubt that he was frequently out in the Militia during said War subscribed & sworn before me the 13 th day of June 1834
Henry Freeman 3
Ichabod Potter

State of New York Herkimer County 3 d
On this tenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the Peace of the county of Herkimer. John Bloodgood of Columbia in said county - that this Deponent is now in the seventy first year of his age, and was acquainted with Jonathan Truman family of the town of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey and this deponent is informed and believes, that he still resides in said town and that deponent was a militia man and done duty at that time under different officers that he recollects the said Jonathan Truman was also out on duty as a soldier in the Regiment of Militia at that time under the command of Col. Crown of Middlesex aforesaid, that this deponent recollects that said Truman was out under Capt. Pross. and Captain David Dunham. that this deponent was out with said Truman in different campaigns under said officers, and distinctly recollects the activity of said Truman during said campaigns in 1780 & 1781 and further this Deponent says not.
Subscribed & sworn
before me March 10 - 1834
Nicholas Smith Justice
John Bloodgood
I hereby certify, that I am personally ac- quainted with the above named John Blood- good and that he is a respectable man of a good moral character & is a man of truth and veracity and that his statements are entitled to credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of March 1834.
Nicholas Smith

Herkimer County, Clerks Office } 385.
I Julius C. Nelson Clerk of the Said County do certify, that Nicholas Smith Esqr before whom the within Affidavit purports to have been Sworn, was, on the day it bears date a Justice of the peace in and for Said County and duly qualified to act as Such - and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the Said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the Said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and Signature
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 10. day of March 1834
Julius C. Nelson Clerk

   in service discharged service diseng. pay 2     Jonathan Freeman Sep. 8 mo. d. 1. 1 Oct. 8 £ 2.10. 0 2. 11. 8  
State of New Jersey
I Charles G. M c Chesney Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from a Pay Roll of Capt James Morgan's Company of Middlesex Militia, as taken from and compared with the original now on file in my Office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Trenton in said State, this twenty first day of July A. D. One thousand eight hundred and forty three.
Charles G. M c Chesney
Secy of State

Receipts for Cash paid  One years' interest on Notes given by the Commissioners of the several Counties for Militia Services.
   No. of Voucher. No. of Certif. Date. SIGNED BY. PAYABLE TO. Amount. 1 y's int.     3 610 June 5/1841 Thomson Stelle Jon a Freeman £ 2.1.8 .. 2.6  
STATE OF NEW JERSEY:
I, CHARLES G. McCHESNEY, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true abstract from a Book, headed as above, as taken from, and compared with the original, now remaining in my office.—And I do further certify, that Thomson Stelle was, by an Act, passed by the Legislature of this State, December 20, 1783, entitled "An Act to procure an estimate of the sums due to the Militia and Troops who have been raised for the defence of the frontiers of the State, and to provide for the settlement of the same," appointed a Commissioner for the County of Middlesex for the purpose of settling and adjusting the pay rolls of the Militia and Troops of this State, as aforesaid, and also for signing and delivering out to each and every person a note for the payment of what may be justly due.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at Trenton, in said State, this twelfth day of December A. D. one thousand eight hundred and forty- three
Charles G. McChesney Secretary of State.

A Muster Roll of Cap t Nixon's Comp y of Horse.
No 1
Jonathan Freeman — 1 February — No 42
No 2
Rec d of Cap t Robert Nixon our sums of money due to us for the last three months in the Horse Service as witness our hands this 28 th day of July 1777 Jonathan Freeman &c &c &c
No 3
A Return of Cap t Matthew Freeman's Company of State troops from Middlesex County Stationed at Woodbridge.
 1 Captain  1 Lieutenant  1 Ensign 
Rank & file — 115.
  Unfit for duty 6   Prisoners 2   Present fit for duty 35   Total 43 
The above is a just and true account
Matthew Freeman Cap t .
Nov r 5. 1780
In s Cape
A. S. R.

N o 4
An Act to raise and embody for a limited time, Six hundred and twenty four men for the defence of the frontiers of this State.
Sec. 1. Be it therefore enacted by the Council and General Assembly of this State and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same that there shall be immediately raised and embodied, for the defence of the frontiers of this State. Six hundred and twenty four men, exclusive of Field Officers to continue in service until the first day of January next unless sooner discharged, and that the said Six hundred and twenty four men be enlisted and raised from the several Counties of this State in the proportion following that is to say: -
From the County of Middlesex One Captain One Lieutenant, One Ensign, and forty four non Commissioned Officers and privates, including two horsemen.
State of New Jersey
I Charles G. M c Chesney Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing is marked N o 1 is a true extract from a Muster Roll of Cap t Robert Nixon - that N o 2 is a true extract from a receipt for money received on N o 3

of pay for Militia Services - That N o 3 is a true copy extract of a return of Cap t Matthew Freeman, and that N o 4 is a true extract from an Act passed by the Legislature of this State June 7 th 1780, as taken from, and compared with the originals now on file in my Office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Trenton in said State, this twelfth day of December A.D. One thousand eight hundred and forty three
Charles F. M c Cluskey Secy of State

Sir,
New Brunswick, July 11. 1843.
I am grateful to have it in my power to transmit to you more proof of the service of a most worthy man. Jonathan Freeman , whose case has been so long imploring your favourable decision. I never doubted the entire justice of it; because I knew he would make no claim but such as his conscience approved. It was once admitted for some two thirds pay, and that was a righteous decision; but unfortunately the common prejudice prevailing against the Jersey claims in a particular quarter of your Office, & which now refuses to yield to the plainest & most conclusive testimony, reached that decision & reversed it. From the Commissioner of Pensions himself I expect full justice, and have always received liberal & enlightened investigation; and to his hands I commit this case in particular. He will find no difficulty, I am sure, in giving to Mr. Freeman all that he ever demanded.
The Commissioner will not have failed to notice how fully the claims of individuals in New Jersey have been sustained, where evidence has been discovered long after their papers were drawn up. In every instance within my not very restricted knowledge, the documentary testimony, when found, covered more ground than the claimants themselves had ventured to appropriate. And of the record of all the services in New Jersey during the war of the Revolution, covered

him be recovered, I have not a doubt, that an average of fifty per cent. would be added to the account of the New Jersey pennies.
I should be glad to tell you, in some form, that this letter has reached the hands of the eye of the Com. of Pensions, and that he has acted upon the case of Mr. Freeman.
I have the honor to be His most Obedt Servt.
James A. Randolph
J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Com. Pensions.
P.S. I beg permission to add, that altho' the receipt of Mr. Freeman covers but 3 mos. of pay, there is no doubt that he served in the same troop 5 or 6 months, as it was thus long or longer, engaged in service. I understand the Dept is however in possession of all the facts as to the nature and extent of this service.
JAR

Dear Sir,
Mansfield, Dec. 18. 1893
Having gathered up what testimony I could in the case of Jonathan Freeman , I take the liberty, under your general permission, to commit his papers to your charge, in order that they may receive the prompt & proper attention due to them, from the Pension office.
The application of Mr. Freeman, you will perceive, was made so far back as 1834. Having failed to satisfy the Pension office as to the services he claimed to have performed, although several witnesses testified for him, he made an appeal to Congress, which, for various reasons, seems not to have been finally acted upon.
I am happy now in the belief that no further difficulty will be felt in admitting his claim. It has been remarkably sustained by proofs not known to be in existence at the time it was made, & only recently discovered.
Mr. Freeman alleged that he entered the service in 1777, as a Port Rider , and served in that capacity, at the early age of 13 or 14, about six months. It turns out, by the testimony from the State Department of New Jersey, that Mr. Freeman was in a "company of Horse," commanded by Capt. Nixon, & served as a ridotto probably for the whole six months, which the corps served, in 1777. We have 4 months of this service, & the remainder is almost inevitably to be inferred. Another allegation, which did not command belief, was, that he served four continuous months in 1780, under Capt. Matthew Freeman. It is in proof, by the Secy of State, that Capt. Freeman commanded a corps of six months in that very year; and to this corps Jonathan Freeman doubtless belonged, & refers, although he fixed

the service earlier in the year than it was actually performed. This is a slight error, which might easily be made at so remote a distance of time. Mr Freeman alleges other services in 1781, & other periods, which we prove first by the testimony of Henry Freeman J. & of Arachal Denham, & secondly by the margins of certificates received by the Militia for services rendered in 1781 & subsequent. Mr Freeman appears to have received three of these certificates - two of which are noted on the back of his paper, & the third is certified herewith by the Secy of State.
He then makes out a case of
6 mo. service as in date in Capt Nixon's Horse in 1779
6 mo. under Capt. Mr Freeman in 1780.
3 mo. at other periods, as proved by Freeman & Dunham and 3 or 4 mo. as ascertained by the margins.
Make what use of this paper you please; but it would be far better for you to make your own synopsis & remarks, than to use my crude & hasty outline.
Please place the paper in the hands of the commissioners of Pensions , himself, & not suffer them to be referred to the Clerk who has al- ready passed upon them, & is therefore pre- judged against the claim.
With the highest respect
Your obed Servt
James I. Randolph
Hon J. M. Miller.

Dear Sir,
Mansfield, Nov. 11. 1844.
I have your favor of the 8 th , with its enclosure. The case of Jonathan Freeman, it would appear, encountered the same unfounded objections, which originally overwhelmed it, & has fallen a sacrifice to the same unconquerable propensities. As you allude to the case that has been invited by the Department, I trust it has been rendered, and an impartial, just opinion formed upon it. I am perfectly willing to abide by your decision, whatever they may be. (I will take the liberty to state more.)
That there are some mistakes, and apparent discrepancies, in the papers, is readily admitted; but they are the result of ignorance, & misjudgment, merely. The original application of Mr. Freeman is slovenly, and inaccurately drawn up, without a due understanding of the subject matter, & a proper comprehension of the force of terms. The same remarks in part, are applicable to the supplemental statement. Neither Mr. Freeman, nor his attorney, was sufficiently acquainted with military organization, usage & terms, to make a statement not exposed to verbal criticism. There is apparent in the various designations of Mr. Freeman's first military employment. He called himself a Pat Rider , but upon looking into what he said of his duties, it was perceived that the term was not applied; and in the endeavor to rectify that error, another as great error was committed, in saying he was an Express Rider . He was neither, as the account he himself gives of his duties will satisfy you. He was engaged in observing, reconnoitering, or watching the enemy. Here, I believe, you will find the source of his language. And that was the employment of a vidette . And in that capacity, he, in point of fact, served. And the John Freeman whose application is now considered, is the very man in Nixon's company. There was none other at that time, nor is there now, in Mid. Co. or in New Jersey, of the name. As I am informed & believe, I have never heard of any other, and my recollection goes back nearly or quite half a century. He served as a volunteer, he says. Of course, he did, for he could not be legally required. He was a boy, and was on that very account, employed, because he would not be so

likely to attract the notice of the enemy. As he says, I think, the date of her service as he states it, as well as the nature of it, is in exact agreement with the facts proved by the Secretary's certificate, whatever hypercriticism may discover in the use of terms. It is the substance the up-right-judge will look at, and not the form, which in this case, is the shadow.
You then to the second material point, the service in 1780. Is there any discrepancy here, in reality, between the allegation and the proof? Not at all, except as to the time of the year when the service was rendered. In every other respect, there is not only an exact, but a very remarkable, harmony. The year is right, which is more than is always possible; and the kind of service is right; the station is right; and the company officer is right; and the extent of the service not over-stated, but the contrary. The service was a voluntary one, because it was in fact an enlistment , whatever Mr. Green or May have called it. He did undoubtedly serve in that special corps, created for "frontier defence," as the act specifies, and it is more than probable, for the whole period for which the corps was engaged. Strip this matter of its technical covering, reduce it to a plain common sense concern, and apply to it the safest principles of equity, and we have a statement verified to the very letter by unimpeachable second evidence, not known at the time of making the statement , and not discovered for years afterwards. Is not this so, Sir; and what would be your decision upon it, in Law or Equity?
The remaining allegations of service are supported fully by the integrity of the whole claim, and particularly by the living cotemporary witnesses of that service.
So that, in my conscientious judgment, and impartial, too, so far as it is possible for the human mind to maintain an equilibrium , where its sympathies are strongly enlisted, there is a case fairly & clearly made out, such as might be allowed by any judicial tribunal, of at least four months service as a dragoon. Six months would cap. Green's man, & some two to four months in other service.

What course it is best to take, now that the claim has been twice rejected at the Pension Office, I leave you to decide. It would seem to be hoping against hope, to remit it to the same hands. But, if you substantially agree with me as to its merits, and will plainly & frankly say so in a letter, it appears to me impossible that an appeal to the Secretary of War could be unsuccessful. He is free from bias, uncommitted, & enlightened. The Pension Office never, I believe, reverses an unfavorable decision. The whole effort there seems to be to find pretents for denying justice to claimants.
Most Respectfully, Your friend's Atty James H. Randolph
Hon Mr. Miller
P.S. I return to you the letter from the Pension Office, in order that you may use it to inform the Secretary of War of the opinions felt there.

Senate Chamber April 11 1844
J L Edwards Esq care of Presses
Sir
By request I enclose the affidavit of Mrs Saunders in a pension case and the favour of your attention to her claim. I believe the justice upon whom it was taken to be a highly respect- able man.
Permit me also to call your attention again to the case of Mr A. M. Elmer
taken out for Com

than applicant I trust you your time since
26. I have also been requested by Mr James F. Randolph of N.Y. to inquire about the case of Jonathan Freeman in which case the late Secy of War (as an officer), directed a certificate to be made out
Your attention to the above cases as soon as com- petent will much oblige
Yours very respectfully & J. W. Miller

30.125-
Jonathan Freeman N.Y. Act 7. June '32
1011
J. L. Edwards Esq. Com. Pension Washington

17 New Brunswick, June 2, 1845.
Sir, Although his case was once admitted, yet from a belief on the mind of one of the Clerks, that his service was not of the character embraced by the act of 32, Jonathan Freeman has to this day been refused the Pittance which beyond all question in the minds of those who know him, he is entitled to.
I have evidence such proof of service as will not be gainsayed, and thus establish the fact that he was in a regularly organized corps, as well as show that he did at least three months service after '18. So, it must always be borne in mind that the Certificate of pay issued by the State in 1784, & 85, was for services performed after 1784, or during that and the subsequent years.
I would feel much obliged to you, to review this case, and admit it for what it is worth, as Mr. Freeman is now in very reduced circumstances, and is very anxious for aid.
Very Respectfully, James A. Randolph
Genl. Edward, Esq. Can Pensions -

Woodbridge, N. J.
June 25th, 1923.
Mr. Washington Gardner, Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions. Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Gardner:
Jonathan Freeman of Woodbridge township, Woodbridge, N. J., served as a Private (Express) in the American Revolution of 1776, he was under several leaders in the war and his pension claim I am told was (or is) known as "Invalid no. 2221" and original filed at the Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Will you kindly forward me copy of this pension record on your form 3-325 and in the section called "Remarks" at the bottom of same I am particularly interested in a record of his family.
If there is any fee or charge

attached kindly advise and I will forward the amount at once as I am very anxious to obtain the record as soon as possible.
There was another Jonathan Freeman from Woodbridge it is said who served in the Revolution and is mentioned in pension claim of one Henry  Henry Freeman, Sr., Invalid #875 pension claim.
Was there any other Jonathan Freeman to make a claim for pension than the one of whom I am inquiring.
Thanking you, Sir,
Very truly,
F. Worth Gardner.
192 Freeman St.,
Woodbridge.
(Middlesex County) New Jersey.

Sir,
New Brunswick, Aug. 8. 1863.
I am in the receipt of your favor of the 5 th . It was perhaps too strong and broad an expression to say, that long a Freeman's case was omitted . It was so, however, technically. That one of the Clerks decided to admit it, but he was overruled by another, & so Mr. Freeman did not go upon the Roll . He afterwards petitioned Congress, but his case there, among hundreds of others, was never definitely acted upon; and the recent discovery of documentary evidence in his case, induced me to call up again at the Department, where I supposed the original papers remained. I presume, however, the Department can resopen itself of these papers, upon application to the Clerk of the Senate; and I hope that this may be done. I supposed the Department never surrendered original papers, but gave certified copies. It is necessary that Freeman should have the benefit of his original papers; and equally desirable to the Department that they should be before it, and I trust that no merely formal difficulty may interpose to prevent justice to a most worthy man.
Very Respectfully, James H. Randolph
J. L. Randall, Esq.

1923 June 28 - Hirt - to J. M. Gardner and
See also
2221.
INVALID.
File No. 2221
Jonathan Freeman
Quint Rev War
Act: June 7, 1862
Index:—Vol. A, Page 131
[Arrangement of 1870.]